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Are you ready? This is golf's greatest rivalry. More raucous, more passionate and more visual than anything the other 103 weeks of every two-year cycle throws up.

Sports fans who normally turn a blind eye to the sedate pastime of golf will tune in to the Ryder Cup, knowing they are pretty much guaranteed to witness something special.

Ryder Cup History

For so many decades this was a very different experience to the one we have some to expect. Between 1927 and 1977, Great Britain and Ireland toiled to just three wins in 22 matches. Desperate to reinvigorate the contest continental Europe was invited along, and yet in the first two instances little changed.

The catalyst came in 1983, when Tony Jacklin took over the captaincy and demanded his team was properly valued by his own authorities. Meanwhile Seve Ballesteros used his determination to be treated with more respect by Americans to fuel a tide-change in fortunes.

Narrow defeat that year was followed by triumph in 1985, a first victory on American soil two years later, and all of a sudden a damp squib had been turned in a global giant. Europe has contested 19 matches and won 10.

The 2018 Ryder Cup Course

The Albatross Course at Le Golf National outside of Paris was always designed with the goal of one day hosting this event. A stadium course, it boasts huge banking around many of the tee boxes and greens, allowing thousands of spectators to gain unparalleled views of the action.

The first two holes features water down the lefthand side, then the layout stretches away into land that has been moved and manipulated to recreate the swathes and hollows of a links course.

Late in the round, the 15th, 16th and 18th holes circle another large lake and are themselves surrounded by rolling banks which will be packed with galleries roaring as the players take on the frightening challenge of hitting approach shots over water.

Things to Consider When Betting The Ryder Cup

As already noted, in the era of European involvement the score is 10-8 to this year's home team with one tie. In the 21st century, Europe has been even more dominant, claiming six of the eight matches.

Europe also holds a 7-2 advantage on home soil (with one tie). It is widely perceived that the course will feature slow greens and high rough, which should, in theory, further neuter the American game, as will the course design, which more often than not demands that driver is kept in the bag.

Against these theories are three arguments. The first is that this American team is more united than ever. Where once they were deemed to be 12 individuals, now they are now distinct groups of friends who partake in frat-style fun and games.

World rankings come second: Team USA has six of the world's top 10 to Europe's four (and 11 of the top 17). The third is the fact that Americans won three of this year's four majors (Francesco Molinari was the odd one out).

Europeans fear not, however: Historically this latter "win" is bogus. Just twice in the last 11 years did the winner of a major progress to Ryder Cup glory.

All told, if you recall the 39 years of European involvement, the record this century, the results on European soil and the nature of the course, it suggests that Europe at 7/5 is overpriced.

Top Individual Ryder Cup Betting Tip

Of all of Europe's wildcards only one was undisputed: Ian Poulter. What's more, it is very hard to imagine that he won't be involved in Friday morning's opening session. He has the chutzpah. He's got the experience. So surely the last thing you'd want to do is have him stewing on the sidelines?

Once he's involved, he will be looking to add to his glittering Ryder Cup record, and he'll be doing it on a course he adores. In 13 visits he has never once missed a cut, has 10 top-30s and has twice finished third.

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